BOSTON — The injuries are starting to mount, and it's less than a week into the season.

Craig Breslow, so integral to setting up Koji Uehara during the second half of the Red Sox' run to the World Series last year, began the season on the disabled list with a strained left shoulder and is currently on a rehab assignment. Shane Victorino, who won a Gold Glove playing Fenway's tricky right field in 2013, is on the DL with a strained right hamstring — and is also battling the flu — and won't be eligible to return for another week.

And now Will Middlebrooks, who had a strong spring training and homered in the Red Sox' home opener on Friday after a disappointing sophomore season last year, has a strained calf and was placed on the 15-day DL Sunday morning.

Brock Holt was called up from Triple-A to take Middlebrooks' place on the roster, though Jonathan Herrera started at third base in Boston's 4-0 loss to the Brewers Sunday afternoon.

"(Middlebrooks) was disappointed yesterday when he first felt the calf grab him," manager John Farrell said. "Today's exam probably confirmed some of the thoughts yesterday based on the way he was reacting and responding to the sprints that he went through and what he felt afterwards.

"Unfortunately, we're missing a power right-handed bat that was getting off to what looked to be a pretty good start."

When the move to call up Holt, who is 25 and has played in parts of two major-league seasons, was announced there were questions about why 22-year-old prospect Garin Cecchini, one of the jewels of the Red Sox' farm system, wasn't called up instead.

Cecchini was 5-for-9 with Pawtucket heading into Sunday, but his bat isn't what concerns the Red Sox.

"While he's had good at-bats there, there's still some development defensively that's taking place," Farrell said. "His time is coming but didn't feel like it was right now."

Beyond Breslow, Victoriono, and Middlebrooks, Mike Carp was scratched from Saturday night's game with tightness in his back, but unlike Middlebrooks — who was also scratched before undergoing the MRI that showed the calf strain — Carp was eventually able to enter the extra-inning loss to the Brewers as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning and remains active.

Absence felt

Sure enough, in just the second inning on Sunday, there was a pivotal play that may have gone differently had Middlebrooks been playing third base rather than Herrera.

With a runner on second a no outs, Khris Davis laid down a bunt that trickled midway between pitcher Jon Lester and Herrera. Both started toward the ball and stopped. So no one fielded it.

Page 2 of 2 - The Red Sox attributed the play to perfect placement by Davis, but perhaps a more confident third baseman would have charged hard and thrown Davis out. Sure enough, two runs scored on the next play, instead of perhaps only one.

"My natural instinct, especially with a righty (hitter), is to go to first and cover the first-base line," said Lester. "He just put a good bunt down. ... That's just one of those deals."

Fungoes

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was presented with his 2013 Gold Glove award, and designated hitter David Ortiz was given his Silver Slugger award, in a pregame ceremony. Victorino, who is staying away from the team while he's sick, did not get his Gold Glove. ...

The loss to the Brewers was the third straight for the Red Sox, matching their longest losing streak of 2013, done five times.

Farrell used his first replay challenge of the season in the second inning when Jackie Bradley Jr. was called out on a close play at first base. The call was upheld. ...

All nine Red Sox starters got exactly one hit, and with his single in first inning Pedroia has now hit in all six games this season. ...

The Red Sox will avoid facing Yu Darvish when the Rangers come to Fenway Park for a three-game series beginning Monday night. John Lackey, Felix Doubront, and Jake Peavy will pitch for Boston, and be opposed by Tanner Scheppers, Martin Perez, and Robbie Ross.

Eric Avidon can be reached at 508-626-3809 or eavidon@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericavidon.